Popes

Pope Gregory I.,

surnamed the Great, was born of a noble family at Rome, about
the year 544. He discovered such abilities as a senator that the
Emperor Justinus appointed him prefect of Rome; after which he
embraced the monastic life, in a society founded by himself. Pope
Pelagius II. sent him as nuncio to Constantinople, and on his
return made him apostolical secretary. He was elected successor
to that pontiff in 590; and a few years later sent over some monks
under the direction of St. Augustine for the purpose of converting
the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity. Pope Gregory was pious and charitable;
had lofty notions of the papal authority, was a reformer of the
clerical discipline, and after his death was canonized. He is,
however, accused, but on slight and doubtful evidence, of burning
a multitude of the works of ancient authors, lest attention to
heathen literature should supersede the monkish and ecclesiastical
studies of the age. His works are comprised in 4 vols. Died, 604.

Ugolino, Pope Gregory IX.,

was a native of Campania, and a near relation of Innocent III.
He became Bishop of Ostia and Cardinal, and in 1227 succeeded
Honorius III. His coronation surpassed in magnificence any which
had preceded it, and the ceremony lasted three days. The principal
events of his pontificate were the various incidents of his contest
with the great Emperor Frederick II., whom he repeatedly excommunicated,
absolving his subjects from their allegiance, and proclaiming
a crusade against him. In 1229 Gregory levied a tithe on all moveables
in England towards the expenses of his war with Frederick. He
established a few years later the Inquisition at Toulouse and
Carcassonne excited by his haughty demeanour a revolt at Rome
in 1234, and was driven from the city, to which he did not return
for three years. St. Anthony of Padua, St. Dominic, and St. Elizabeth
were canonized by Gregory IX. Died in 1241, at a very advanced
age.